Wire form tie and apparatus for making same



Nov. 28, 1961 c. H. DAVIS 3,010,494

WIRE FORM TIE AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SAME Filed Nov. 15, 1957 FIG 2 1."Y 47a 4% x 35 FIG. 3

FIG. 5

Inventor CARL H. DAV/S by: W

Patent Aaent United States Patent 3,010,494 WIRE FORM TIE AND APPARATUSFOR MAKING SAM'E Carl Horace Davis, General Delivery, Goderich, Ontario,Canada Filed Nov. 15, 1957, Ser. No. 696,824 3 Claims. (Cl. 140149) Thisinvention relates to a structural form bracing wire tie adapted topresent rustproof ends and to a machine for twisting said ties to anydesirable length.

The ties presently in use provide braces for wooden forms and loopportions fashioned to hold the walls of the form in place prior topouring the concrete, if such is the structural material being used.

The method of controllably forming ties having loop portions suitablefor this purpose, as found in the art, is unduly complicated and adds tothe overall cost of the tie, in addition to the cost of the machine usedin the forming thereof.

The extreme tension produced in prior machines during the twistingoperation is a factor inherent in the art which does not afford a simplemeans of releasing the tie after formation.

Upon setting of the concrete and cutting of the upright supportingportion of prior ties to remove the structural forms and clipping theprotruding portion of existing wire ties flush with the exterior surfaceof the newly set wall, the ends of the ties become rusted and after ashort length of time rust streaks appear on the external surface of thewall.

Existing tie forming machines are not easily adaptable to produce tieshaving various lengths without complicated adjustments and expensivemechanisms to produce variable lengths of ties.

The invention overcomes the disadvantages of prior methods in providinga release mechanism for simple removal of a form tie, and an adjustingmeans to provide ties of varying lengths. The inherent disadvantage ofprior ties is overcome by the use of aluminum-clad wire as the tieforming material. Another advantage of the present invention resides inthe provision of a formabutting portion initially provided in theanchoring of the wire before twisting to produce a complete tie in oneoperation, from a single length of wire.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is indicated in the followingdrawings in which:

FIGURE '1 is a perspective view of the tie forming machine bearing atwisted wire tie according to the invention, prior to release;

FIGURE 2 is a view in perspective of the head of the machine indicatingthe means of attaching the Wire prior to the twisting operation;

FIGURE 3 is a broken view of the complete tie;

FIGURE 4 indicates a side elevation of a portion of the machine to anenlarged scale before release of the tie;

FIGURE 5 indicates a side elevation of a portion of the machine inrelease position after the twisting operation.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of a wire in accordance with theinvention before cutting and a view of a wire end after cutting thereof.

Having regard to the drawings a preferred embodiment of the machine ofthe invention comprises support members or legs, 10 and 11, adapted tobe fastened by bolts 12 to any suitable supporting surface 13. Legs 10and 11 have extended reinforcing sections, 14 and 15 respectively ofpredominantly circular cross-section, each section being drilled toreceive the end portions of a bed member 16, the bed member retainingthe legs in a spaced apart relationship for support and stability. Theend portions of the bed member are rigidly maintainable within thatother suitable means may be employed for retaining the bed member withinthe legs, however the set screws provide a simple means of disassemblyfor easy portability.

Leg 10 includes an upwardly extending portion generally indicated by thereference numeral 18 to provide a bearing portion 19 adapted to receivea shaft '20 adapted to rotate within the said bearing portion. One end21 of shaft 20 has inserted thereover a collar 22 of sufiicient outsidediameter to abut the exterior face 19a of bearing 19. The portion ofshaft 20 adjacent end 21 is threaded to receive a handle 23 held rigidlyto said threaded portion of the shaft by means of a pin 24 insertablethrough the handle and the shaft, in a manner well known to anexperienced mechanic. Collar 22 is fixed in position on the shaft by anysuitable means such as brazing or welding.

The free end of the shaft remote from the handle is the free end of theshaft is engageable with yoke 25, the

yoke being bored to receive the shaft, the yoke and shaft being held inrelatively fixed relationship by means of set screw 26. The yoke ispreferably fixed to the shaft in a position to provide a portion of saidshaft between surface 27 of the yoke and the interior face of thebearing portion 19, to permit a restricted lateral sliding movement ofthe shaft within said bearing, said movement being restricted in onedirection by contact of collar 22 with the exterior face 19a of bearing19 and in the other direction by contact of surface'27 of yoke 25 withthe interior face of bearing 19.

Yoke 25 is provided with a recessed fiat surface portion 28 forengagement with a loop chucking head 29, held in fixed relationship withthe yoke on surface 28 by means of a set screw 30.

The body of head 29, having a head axis shown in broken line and denotedby the letter B, is preferably generally ovoid in lateral cross-sectionas clearly indicated in FIGURES 1 and 2. The external surfaces of thehead form loop defining surfaces 29a disposed parallel to the head axisB for purposes hereinafter set out. Head 29 is drilled as indicated inbroken line by the reference 2% to form a socket or wire end anchorageto receive a clamping leg of a length of wire prior to the formation ofa wound tie, the socket having an axis C parallel to axis B.

Surface 28 of the yoke is sufirciently recessed to provide optimumpositioning of the head 29 on the projection of the centre-line of shaft20 to permit 'a minimum eccentricity of head 29 upon rotation of saidshaft. The centre line of shaft 20 and its projection forms a machineaxis noted in broken line in FIGURE 1 by the letter A.

Horizontally opposed to shaft 20 is a release arm 31 slidably insertedwithin a supporting arm 32 slidably engageable with bed member 16 todispose the release arm 31 in an end-to-end parallel relationship to'therotatable shaft 20 as shown in FIGURE 1.

Support arm 32 in vertical cross-section is shaped generally in the formof a figure 8 with the lower rounded portion 32a, FIGURE 1 being drilledto receive =bed member 16, and the upper rounded portion 32b beingdrilled to slidably receive the release arm 31. The supporting arm 32may be adjustably located upon bed member 16 by means of a removable pin33 insertable into holes 34 of member 32 and holes 35 of bed member 16.Holes 34 have a closer relative spacing than that of holes 35 to permita fine linear adjustment of member 32 on member 16.

' wire.

A second loop chucking head or wire supporting portion 36 is directlysupported upon release arm 31 by means of set screws 37, or othersuitable means, as indicated in FIGURE l. Though it has not been foundnecessary, it may be convenient to provide a machined flat portion ofthe release arm to provide a seat for the second head member 36 forfixed engagement with the release arm.

The chucking head 36 is supported upon spindle 31 to dispose the headsubstantially centrally upon the machine axis A of the device. Head 36is identical in form to head 29, having a body axis B, loop definingsurfaces 36a disposed parallel to the body or head axis, and a drilledportion 36b forming a socket or wire end anchorage to receive a clampingleg of a length of wire. The socket 36b contains axis C parallel to axisB, said axes B and C of heads 29 and 36 being disposed substantially atright angles to the machine axis A.

The release arm 31 is prevented from rotation Within rounded section 32bof support arm 32 by means of the engagement of set screw '38 with ashoulder of release arm 31 formed by a flat surface 39 machined upon aportion of the arm 31, the set screw 38 being retained withinportion'32b of support arm 32 as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5.

The outward end of release arm 31, a portion of which is indicated bythe reference numeral 40, is threaded to receive an internally threadednut 41, FIGURES l and 4. 'A collar '42 having arcuate cut-away portions42a is adapted to freely engage arm 31. A fiat surface 42b of collar 42abuts the outer vertical surface of the rounded section 32b ofsupporting arm 32 as clearly shown in FIGURES .4 and 5. Sleeve 43,slidably engageable with release arm 31 has edges 43a defining V-shapedcut-away portions providing an extended lug portion 43b.

Collar 42 is adapted to be held rigidly to support 32 by means oflocking pins 44. The nut 41 is threadably engageable with the threadedportion 40 of arm 31 and may be held in position against turning bymeans of set screw 45 through a wall of the nut as shown in FIGURES 4and engaging the arm. A pin 46, FIGURES 1 and 4 is attached to sleeve 43by welding, brazing or other suitable means, a protruding portion of pin46 being provided externally of said sleeve for manual operation of thesleev as part of a releasing mechanism.

The wire to be twisted into a form tie is generally designated inFIGURES 1, 2 and 3 by the reference numeral 47 and as shown in FIGURE 2comprises a single wire having end portions 47a and an intermediatelength 471) all of substantially equal lengths. Upon twisting of the.tie the portions 47a and 47b form a rigidi-fying'intermediate cableportion 47c, FIGURES 1 and 3. The end portions are bent near theirextremities to form clamping legs 48 and 4-9 for insertion withinsockets 29b and 36b of heads 29 and 36 respectively, effectivelyanchoring said ends. In the twisted condition, clamping legs 48 and 49form abutments for structural materials such as wooden boards or othermaterial used as forms in the construction of poured concrete or othertypes of walls.

Upon formation of a twisted wire tie, loop portions 50 and 51 areprovided, each loop receiving a clamping leg 48 and 49 respectivelythrough the crotch of the loop emerging from each end of the twistedintermediate cable portion 47a of the tie, said legs forming a boardabutment means.

It may be readily appreciated that many types of wires may be used inthe formation of the tie. However, for purposes hereinafter set out, andas shown in FIGURE 6, a Wire 47 having a steel core 52 is preferred,with an aluminum coating 53 to form an aluminum clad steel Uponcuttingthe aluminum clad wire, a pinched or crimped end is developed as shownin FIGURE 6, in which the aluminum portion of the cut end completely 4encloses the steel portion, the higher ductility of the aluminum forminga clad end 54.

In operation, the end portion or clamping leg 48 of a piece of wire ofsuitable length is inserted within the drilled socket or anchorage 29bof head 29, FIGURE 2, and the wire is bent roughly at right angles toform the downwardly extending clamping leg. The wire is then woundaround head 36 in the direction of arrows X and thence in the oppositedirection toward head 29 following arrow Y, and forming loop 51. Uponwinding the wire around head 29, thus forming the loop 50, the wire isreturned in the direction of arrow Z to insert end .portion orclamping'leg 49 within the drilled socket or anchorage 36b of head 36,the wire being positioned substantially on the machine axis A. It ispreferable in operation to provide the bent portions forming bothclamping legs in this manner before attaching the wire to the chuckingheads.

The placing of the wire on the machine having been completed, head 36 onrelease arm 31 is urged outwardly, sleeve 43 being rotated to disposethe extended lug portion 4311 from cooperation with the arcuate cutawayportion 42a of collar 42. In this manner, heads 29 and 36 are fixed in apre-determined' spaced apart relationship, the distance depending on thelength of tie desired. Spacing of the heads isaccomplished by slidingthe supporting arm 32- to a required location on bed member 16, andinserting pin 33 into proper communicating holes 34 and 35. Upon windingthe tie, pin 46 rigidly attached to sleeve 43, is rotated to allowinsertion of lug portion 43b within arcuate portion 420 of collar 42.The tension produced by winding the tie is thus released by relativemovement of head 36 on release arm 31 toward head 29, permitting removalof the wound tie as clearly indicated in FIGURES 4 and 5.

A revolution counter 55 is inserted within the bearing portion 19 ofsupport 10 for engagement with shaft 20. The counter is adjusted beforeassembly with the shaft to indicate a numerical change of one upon fourcomplete rotations of said shaft to provide an indication of the numberof ties so formed, since four rotations are suflicient to complete thetie-winding operation.

In accordance with known practice in the use of form ties, loops 50 and51 contain an upright bar or other structural member to support thefinished concrete form. Upon pouring and setting of the concrete, toremove the structural form, the ties are cut to permit removal of theboards and upright supports, the portions of ties within the inner facesof the boards being retained within the concrete for re-inforcingpurposes.

The aluminum clad portion of the inventors tie, upon cutting of the wireprovides a protective coating 53, over the steel core of the wire andthe crimped end 54 preventing the appearance of rust streaks on theouter face of the finished wall. 7

It will be obvious from a study of the invention that changes ormodifications may be incorporated therein without departing from theprinciples and spirit thereof and for this reason it is not meant tolimit the invention to the precise arrangement and formation of theparts except as claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Apparatus for forming a structural wire tie characterized by two endloop portions and a clamping leg extending transversely through each endloop portion, from a single length of wire, and comprising incombination: a machine bed having a bed axis extending longitudinallythrough said apparatus; a longitudinal axis parallel to said bed axisabout which the wire tie is to be formed; two loop chucking heads; meanssupporting said chucking heads to dispose the axis of each at rightangles to said longitudinal axis and in spaced apart relation on thelatter, the heads being spaced apart on said longitudinal axis adistance substantially equal to the length of the tie to be formed; aloop defining surface on each head parallel to said head axis and a wireend anchorage on each head in the form of a socket having an axisparallel to said head axis and adapted to accommodate a wire end todefine a clamping leg for said wire tie therein; said loop definingsurfaces being located outwardly of said head axes and said socketsbeing located inwardly of said loop defining surfaces; means forrotating one of said heads on said longitudinal axis; means rigidlyanchoring the other head on said longitudinal axis during rotation ofsaid first head thereby to form a twisted intermediate cable portionfrom a single length of wire, the ends or" which are accommodated insaid sockets and the loop portions of which are defined by said loopdefining surfaces or said chucking heads; and releasable means forslidably moving said other head axially on said longitudinal axis toaccommodate removal of said wire tie from said chucking heads.

2. Apparatus for forming a structural wire tie char acterized by two endloop portions and a clamping leg extending tarnsversely through each endloop portion, from a single length of wire, and comprising incombination: a machine bed having a bed axis extending longitudinallythrough said apparatus; a longitudinal axis parallel to said bed axisabout which the wire tie is to be formed; two loop chucking heads; meanssupporting said chucking heads to dispose the axis of each at rightangles to said longitudinal axis and in spaced apart relation on thelatter; each head being substantially ovoid in cross-section a loopdefining surface on each head parallel to said head axis; a wire endanchorage on each head in the form of a socket having an axis parallelto said head axis and adapted to accommodate a wire end to define aclamping leg for said wire tie therein; and said loop defining surfacesbeing located outwardly of said head axes and said sockets being locatedinwardly of said loop defining surfaces; means for rotating one of saidheads about said longitudinal axis; and means rigidly anchoring theother head on said longitudinal axis during rotation of said first headthereby to form a twisted intermediate cable portion from a singlelength of wire the ends of which are accommodated in said sockets andthe loop portions of which are defined by said loop defining surfaces ofsaid chucking heads.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the releasable meanscomprises: a collar having arcuate cutaway portions; a sleeve havingextended portions adapted in one position to be retained from thearcuate portions of the collar and in the other position to engage saidarcuate portions; and means engaging the head Support to permit slidingof said other head axially on said machine axis upon engagement of theextended portion of the sleeve Within the arcuate position of thecollar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS996,405 Green et al. June 27, 1911 1,692,167 Gates Nov. 20, 19281,752,726 Brannaka Apr. 1, 1930 2,656,581 Gates Oct. 27, 1953 2,694,419Larsen Nov. 16, 1954 2,829,681 Wadsworth Apr. 8, 8

